Instagram introduces Watch History to help users find lost Reels

New Delhi: Instagram has introduced a new “Watch History” feature that allows users to revisit previously viewed Reels. The update brings the app in line with TikTok, which has offered a similar feature for some time.

The new function enables users to locate videos they may have lost track of, for instance, when the app closes unexpectedly, a call interrupts viewing, or they forget to save a video.

“Have you ever tried to get back to a reel that you’d seen on Instagram and you just can’t find it?” said Instagram head Adam Mosseri. 

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“Well, there is a new feature that should help. If you go to ‘Profile’ and under ‘Settings,’ under ‘Your Activity,’ there’s Watch History now, so you can see every reel that you’ve ever watched.”

Users can sort their Watch History by date, selecting from the past week, month, or a custom range, and can delete individual entries if they choose. Instagram’s version also includes options to sort Reels in chronological or reverse chronological order, or by author, offering more flexibility than TikTok’s equivalent.

The feature was introduced following widespread requests from users. Previously, those trying to find lost Reels had to download their app data and sift through files to recover viewing history. The new option simplifies that process and eliminates the need for such workarounds.